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Strengthening Policy for Young Women in the Changing World of Work

The position for women in Ugandan society could be considered one of power – lessness: influenced by a range of factors including social norms and practices that prevent their full participation in the world of work (WoW), inequitable gender paygaps, and a variety of barriers in women’s professional and personal lives. In order to better understand how to change these social norms and facilitate women’s equitable inclusion in the WoW, UN-Habitat undertook a policy analysis at the municipal level in Uganda on existing national and municipal policies, laws and frameworks.

The study also resonates with the gender-responsive nature of the recently adopt – ed New Urban Agenda (NUA), which has been adopted to guide urban centres. This is to occur, “by ensuring women’s full and effective participation and equal rights in all fields and in leadership at all levels of decision-making; by ensuring decent work and equal pay for equal work, or work of equal value, for all women; and by pre – venting and eliminating all forms of discrimination, violence and harassment against women and girls in private and public spaces”

Both women and men contribute to local economy in various capacities, and possess distinct knowledge. These are the building blocks for realizing the potential of a locality. In this regard, there is growing consensus on the importance of women as essential economic actors. Discrimination against women is considered economically inefficient as it marginalizes those that can potentially be more productive and contribute to the local economy. Moreover, around the world, women’s growing participation in the WoW is offering an important contribution to national growth rates and economic viability. Yet, gender gaps in the WoW continue to adversely impact productivity and competitiveness. Local governments are the key vehicles for formulating interventions, both to eliminate barriers to achieve equitable outcomes in community contexts, and to ensure equity and effectiveness in planning, budgeting, service provision, and government oversight. This is relevant in addressing social and cultural practices that keep young women in positions of powerlessness in the WoW.

This article is culled from daily press coverage from around the world. It is posted on the Urban Gateway by way of keeping all users informed about matters of interest. The opinion expressed in this article is that of the author and in no way reflects the opinion of UN-Habitat.